Apparatus for driving medical appliances

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled wheelchair type artificial heart driving apparatus for giving freedom of movement to those patients who require an auxiliary artificial heart. Various safety devices are provided to avoid danger due to erroneous running of the wheelchair at the time when the patients board on or alight from the wheelchair and after alighting therefrom. For the purpose of enlarging a sphere of movement of the patients and preventing possible dangers, a motor-operated tube taking-up mechanism is provided and the wheelchair is permitted to run only when the tubes are in the orderly housed condition. A pressure compensating solenoid valve is provided in parallel to a pressure adjusting solenoid valve and a tank is dispensed with so as to make reduction in size of the artificial heart driving apparatus.

.Iadd.This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 07/131,164 filedDec. 10, 1987, and now abandoned, which is a reissue of application Ser.No. 06/594,639 filed Mar. 29, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,997..Iaddend.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving medicalappliances, e.g., such as an artificial heart driving apparatus, andmore particularly to an apparatus for driving medical appliances whichcan be self-propelled with a patient riding thereon.

It is usually impossible for some sick persons, particularly those witha serious illness who require, for example, an artificial heart(auxiliary heart), to move about because they have not the strength towalk and can not survive without a relatively large driving apparatusfor the artificial heart being connected to their bodies. However, evensuch patients are relatively vigorous in many cases when the artificialheart (auxiliary heart) is operated satisfactorily, so it is notdesirable to deprive such patients of their freedom of movement for along period.

If an artificial heart driving apparatus can be mounted on anelectric-powered wheelchair, this permits even those patients who carryan artificial heart on them to move about at any desired time. But anattempt to realize that will be accompanied by various dangers. Forexample, upon alighting from the wheelchair, if the wheelchair iserroneously moved after the patient has alighted therefrom, the patientwill be exposed to danger because he is connected through tubes of alimited length to the artificial heart driving apparatus mounted on thewheelchair. In case of an electric-powered wheelchair, since thewheelchair, namely, artificial heart driving apparatus is readily movedby the simple operation of a lever or the like, the patient will getinto serious danger if the control lever is accidentally caught by thehands, clothes, etc. of the patient when he is going to board on oralight from the wheelchair, or if the control lever is operated bymistake by those who are unfamiliar to the apparatus.

Further, when an artificial heart driving apparatus is mounted on anelectric-powered wheelchair, tubes are preferably made longer whichserve to connect between the artificial heart driving apparatus and anartificial heart, i.e., the patient, for the purpose of enlarging asphere of movement of the patient. However, the longer tubes result inthe danger that the tubes will be crushed under the patient's feet, thewheelchair itself, other moving equipment, etc. The fact that the tubesused in driving the artificial heart are crushed means a stoppage infunctioning of the artificial heart. Since such patients are inclined tobe weak in their physical strength in many cases, such stoppages are aserious, influence on lives of the patients in the events not only ifthe tubes are broken, but also if the artificial heart is stopped eventemporarily.

On the other hand, the artificial heart driving apparatus has a fairlylarge size because it requires a number of solenoid valves, tanks,pressure sources and other components, as described in, for example, theUnited Patent Application Ser. No. 480,181 (filed on Mar. 28, 1983).Accordingly, it is difficult to directly mount such large-sizedapparatus into the vacant space of the electric-powered wheelchair witha small size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to afford freedom ofmovement for those patients who need the aid of medical appliances suchas an artificial heart (auxiliary heart) and who can remain relativelyvigorous with such aid.

A second object of the present invention is to mount the medicalappliance on a mobile unit such as an electric-powered wheelchair and tosecure safety of the patients by preventing erroneous running of themobile unit.

A third object of the present invention is to permit movement of thepatients in a broader area with respect to the medical appliance drivingapparatus by making longer tubes, etc. used to connect between themedical appliance and the patient, and to prevent stoppage of themedical appliance in its operation.

A fourth object of the present invention is to reduce the size ofdriving apparatus for the medical appliance and to mount such apparatuson a small sized mobile unit such as an electric-powered wheelchair.

To achieve the above first object, according to the present invention, adriving apparatus for the medical appliance is mounted on a mobile unitsuch as an electric-powered wheelchair.

To achieve the above second object, according to the present invention,at least one state of movable parts of the mobile unit and the medicalappliance is detected and, in response to the detected result, themobile unit is inhibited from moving in case that the patient does notwish to move and that there is a possibility of an anomaly to occur inthe medical appliance. This is effected as follows in a preferred formof the present invention. Firstly, a control lever for controllingoperation of the mobile unit is arranged detachably, and the mobile unitis inhibited from moving when the lever is detached. The lever can beoperated simply, but it will be a danger to the patient when he boardsor alights from the wheelchair, because of its sharply projected form.On the other hand, with the lever being arranged detachably, when it isremoved by the patient himself or an attendant at the time of boardingor alighting, such projected lever disappears and danger can be avoidedfor the patient such as the mobile unit (medical appliance) being movedby mistake at the time of boarding or alighting and after alighting.Secondly, at least one armrest is provided on the mobile unit in such amovable fashion as it can be retracted, and the mobile unit is inhibitedfrom moving when the armrest is in its retracted position. The presenceof an armrest makes the patient more comfortable but, to the contrary,will be a very possible obstruction or danger to him at the time ofboarding or alighting. Such obstruction or danger can be eliminated byhaving the armrest arranged in a retractable fashion. Also, byinhibiting movement of the mobile unit in the state when the armrest isin its retreated position, i.e., at the time of boarding or alightingand after alighting, it is impossible for the mobile unit to moveunintentionally against a wish of the patient. Thirdly, the state oftubes or the like used to connect between the artificial heart, etc. andthe apparatus for driving the same is detected, and the mobile unit isinhibited from moving when the tubes or the like are drawn out in a verylong.

To achieve the above third object, according to the present invention,there is provided a take-up device for rolling the tubes or the likeused to connect between the artificial heart, etc. and the apparatus fordriving the same. This permits even long tubes to be housed in aretracted condition during boarding free of danger that they may becrushed flat so that a portion no longer than needed may be exposed tothe outside, and to be drawn out a longer length when alighting.Thereby, it becomes possible to increase freedom of movement of thepatient and to ensure safety of the medical appliance.

In the apparatus such as an artificial heart driving apparatus which isrequired to produce a predetermined pressure, it is preferably providedwith a tank, i.e., an accumulator for maintaining the stable pressureeven under the load. Particularly, in use for an artificial heart or thelike which requires pressure changes having pulse-like sharp rises, alarge-sized tank is generally employed in the driving apparatus so as toprevent reduction in the pressure. However, since such a tank has alarge size, the conventional driving apparatus using the tank can not bedirectly arranged in the narrow space of the wheelchair in practice. Onthe other hand, when the tank is simply dispensed with, a solenoid valvefor controlling the pressure must be increased in its size to compensatefor the omission of the tank, with the result that the size of apparatusas a whole remains unchanged. According to the present invention,therefore, another solenoid valve is added in parallel to theconventional solenoid valve for adjusting the pressure, and it undergoesthe opening and closing control in synchronous relation with a drivingtiming of the medical appliance such as an artificial heart, thereby tocompensate for a temporary reduction of the pressure. This eliminatesthe need of a tank and permits the pressure control with a small-sizedsolenoid valve, thus achieving the above fourth object. In case of theartificial heart driving apparatus, there can be obtained a sufficienteffect with the additional solenoid valves for compensating the pressurebeing provided not in the negative pressure system but in the positivepressure system only.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparentfrom a reading of the following description with reference to thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of anapparatus for embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are a top plan, side and a front view of theapparatus of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are schematic exploded perspective views of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the internal structure of the apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e are a sectional view taken along the lineVa--Va in FIG. 5d, sectional view taken along the line Vb--Vb in FIG.5a, sectional view taken along the line Vc--Vc in FIG. 5a, sectionalview taken along the line Vd--Vd in FIG. 5a and a sectional view takenalong the line Ve--Ve in FIG. 5d, respectively, for showing a tubetaking-up mechanism 78;

FIG. 6a is a sectional view taken along the line VIa--VIa in FIG. 2c;

FIG. 6b is a sectional view taken along the line VIb--VIb in FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7a is a sectional view showing the vicinity of a running controllever 58;

FIG. 7b is a perspective view showing the portion downwardly continuedfrom the mechanism shown in FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a valve unit 73 in FIG. 3b;

FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d are a top plan, right side, left side and anenlarged longitudinal sectional view, respectively, for showing asolenoid valve used in the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the schematic system configuration ofthe apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an artificial heart driving mechanism300 in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12a and 12b are block diagrams of an artificial heart control unit400 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12c is a timing chart showing operation of the circuitry of FIG.12a;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of microcomputersCPU1 and CPU2;

FIG. 14 is an electrical circuit diagram showing the configuration of acontrol board 600;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a wheelchair driving motor control unit 75shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a system control unit 200 shown in FIG.10;

FIG. 17a, 17b and 17c are flow charts showing summary operation of amicrocomputer unit CPU3;

FIG. 17d is a timing chart showing operation of the wheelchair drivingmotor control unit 75;

FIGS. 18a and 18b are flow charts showing summary operation of themicrocomputer unit CPU1;

FIGS. 19a and 19b are flow charts showing summary operation of themicrocomputer unit CPU2; and

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing summary operation of a microcomputerunit CPU4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an electric-powered wheelchairequipped with an artificial heart driving apparatus, and FIGS. 2a, and2b and 2c are a top plan, side and a front view of the wheelchair ofFIG. 1, respectively. Description will be made by referring to FIG. 1and FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c. The electric-powered wheelchair is providedwith four wheels, front wheel 51a of which have a relatively small sizeand are arranged into the form of a caster. Rear wheels 51b have arelatively large size and are separately driven by independent motorsthrough speed reduction mechanisms (not shown). There are providedarmrests 52L and 52R on the left and right sides, respectively.Designated at 53 is a footrest and at 54 is a backrest.

Designated at 56 that appears near the root of a support shaft 55 forthe lefthand armrest 52L is a cover of a port for taking out artificialheart driving tubes. When the patient is present on the wheelchair,artificial heart driving tube 57L and 57R are projected from the cover56. To the leading end of each artificial heart driving tube isconnected a connector, through which an artificial heart is connected toan artificial heart driving apparatus. Designated at TV located on thefront end surface of the lefthand armrest 52L is a monitor television ofsmall size. Designated at 58 projecting from the front end surface ofthe righthand armrest 52R is a control lever for running the wheelchair.As described later, this control lever 58 is detachable so that such alarge projected lever will be removed from the surface of the armrest52R when it is taken out, as will be seen from FIG. 1.

Further, as described later, the armrests 52L and 52R are turnablehorizontally (counterclockwise for 52L, clockwise for 52R) about thesupport shafts 55 by 90 degrees, respectively. Switches SW1L and SW1Rprovided in the lower sides of the armrests 52L and 52R, respectively,provide instructions for releasing the locked state of the arm rests.Designated at 59 is an alarm display of the artificial heart drivingapparatus, and at 60 is an alarm display of the electric-poweredwheelchair. Each of those alarm displays includes therein two lightemitting diodes, one of which indicates the green color in the normalcondition and the other of which indicates the red color in the eventany anomaly occurs. Designated at SW2 is a take-up instruction switchfor a motor-operated tube taking-up mechanism and, when the switch isoperated, the artificial heart driving tubes 57L and 57R are rolled intothe interior of the wheelchair. Designated at 61 is a key switch for theartificial heart, at 62 is a connector for electrical connection of acontrol board for setting and instructing various control parameters ofthe artificial heart driving apparatus, and at 63 is a connector forelectrical connection of an external monitor television similar to themonitor television TV on the armrest. At 64 is an alarm buzzer whichissues an alarm in the event of an anomaly.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show exploded perspective views of the wheelchair ofFIG. 1. It is to be noted that minor parts are omitted in these figures.FIG. 3a mainly illustrates a housing of the wheelchair, and FIG. 3billustrates a chassis of the wheelchair and principal components of theartificial heart driving apparatus. Those principal components of theartificial heart driving apparatus and the electric-powered wheelchairwill be now described by referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b.

Designated at 71 is a vacuum pump, at 72 is a compressor, at 73 is avalve unit, at 74 is a muffler (sound arrester), at 75 is a wheelchairdriving motor control unit, at 76a and 76b are batteries for theartificial heart driving apparatus, and at 77a and 77b are batteries forthe wheelchair. At M1 and M2 are motors for driving the righthand rearwheel and the lefthand rear wheel, respectively. These motors are ofdirect current motors. At 78 is a drum for rolling the artificial heartdriving tubes therearound.

FIG. 4 shows a section of the wheelchair equipped with the artificialheart driving apparatus. Referring now to FIG. 4, the compressor 71 andthe vacuum pump 72 are placed in an enclosure for prevention of noiseand communicated with the atmosphere through the muffler 74. Both sidemembers and an upper member of the enclosure housing therein thecompressor 71 and the vacuum pump 72 are formed of rubber. Since thetemperature in an internal space of the enclosure is increased due toheat generated by the compressor 71 and the vacuum pump 72, the fluidinflow side of the compressor 71 is exposed to the internal space inthis embodiment, so that air of low temperature led from a hole 74a ofthe muffler 74 may be circulated within the space. The vacuum pump 72 isconnected to the muffler 74 through a pipe (not shown). Pressure outputterminals of the compressor 71 and the vacuum pump 72 are connected tothe valve unit 73 through pipes 79 and 80, respectively. Designated at81 and 82 are pressure output terminals for the artificial heart drivingapparatus of two systesm. In this embodiment, all of electronicalcontrol devices except for the wheelchair driving motor control unit 75is mounted in the interior (rear side) of the backrest 54.

The construction in the vicinity of the drum 78 is shown in FIGS. 5a,5b, 5c, 5d and 5e. Referring first to FIG. 5d, to openings 83 and 84 areconnected pipes led from the pressure output terminals 81 and 82 of theartificial heart driving apparatus, respectively. A first member 85 hasa cylindrical form and is formed with a bore 85a axially penetratingtherethrough and with a groove 85b in its peripheral surface. A secondmember 86 has a cylindrical form except for the part near the opening,and it is fitted to the outer periphery of the first member 85 in such amanner that holes 86a and 86b, the latter communicating with the opening84, are located opposite to the groove 85b. A third member 89 isrotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the second member 86 throughbearings 87 and 88. The third member 89 is formed with a groove 89asurrounding the periphery of the second member 86 at a position oppositeto the groove 85b of the first member and the hole 86a of the secondmember, and with a bore 89b communicating with the groove 89a. The thirdmember 89 is also formed with a bore 89c communicating with the bore 85aof the first member.

A tube reel 94 is connected to the third member 89. One ends of theartificial heart driving tubes 57R and 57L are connected to the bores89b and 89c of the third member as pressure output terminals,respectively, and the driving tubes extending from those terminals areexposed to the outside while being rolled along the peripheral surfaceof the tube reel 94. Incidentally, designated at 90, 91, 92 and 93 areseal rings.

Referring now also to FIG. 5e, designated at M3 is a motor for taking-upthe tubes and formed of a stepping motor in this embodiment. The motorM3 is fixed to a plate-like support member 95 and provided on itsdriving shaft with a reel driving roller 96. The support member 95 hasone end rotatably supported at a point P and the other end supported bya plunger 97a of an electromagnetic actuator 97.

The support member 95 is normally lifted upwards by the force of acompression coil spring 97b, but when a solenoid of the electromagneticactuator 97 is energized, the support member 95 is pushed downwards bythe actuator, thus causing the reel driving roller 96 to be pressedagainst a peripheral surface 94a of the tube reel.

Description will be now made by referring to FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c. On theouter side of the tube reel 94, there are arranged eight rotatableTeflon-made rollers 98 along the peripheral surface thereof to preventthe artificial heart driving tubes 57R and 57L from slipping away fromthe tube reel 94. The pair of (two) artificial heart driving tubes 57Rand 57L led from the tube reel 94 are extended through a tube passagewhich is formed by three parts of rotatable Teflon-made rollers 99a-99b,100a-100b and 101a-101b each recessed at the central part, in order thatthe tubes will not be got entangled or caught within the housing.

In this embodiment, the artificial heart driving tubes are guided insuch a way as those roller pairs are arranged to follow an inclinedcurve and the size of the rollers is increased with their positionsbeing more spaced from the reel. A proximity switch (sensor) 102 fordetecting magnetism is provided near the passage of the artificial heartdriving tubes 57L, 57R, and the artificial heart driving tube 57L isprovided with an iron piece 103 at the part which locates opposite tothe proximity switch 102 when the tube is completely taken up.

FIG. 6a shows the support structure of the armrest supporting shaft 55,etc, when viewed from the line VIa--VIa in FIG. 6b and FIG. 2c, and FIG.6b shows a section when viewed from the line VIb--VIb in FIG. 6a.Referring now to FIGS. 6a and 6b, the support shaft 55 has a cylindricalform and is provided with a semi-circular flange 55a at its lower part.A rotation of the support shaft 55 in one direction is restricted bythat one end of the flange 55a strikes against a projected part 110 onthe housing side, and a rotation thereof in the other direction isrestricted by the presence of a projected part 111 on the housing sideor a projected part 112a of an arm 112.

The arm 112 has one end rotatably supported by a pin 113 and the otherend supported by an electromagnetic actuator 114. The arm 112 isnormally pushed toward the side of the support shaft 55 by a spring 114aand, in this state as shown in FIG. 6a, the flange 55a is locked by theprojected part 110 of the housing and the projected part 112a of thearm.

When a solenoid of the electromagnetic actuator 114 is energized, aplunger 114b is retracted and the arm 112 is turned clockwise, thuscausing the projected part 112a to be released from the flange 55a. As aresult, the support shaft 55 is released from its locked state. In thiscondition, a movement of the flange 55a is restricted by the projectedparts 110 and 111 of the housing, so that the support shaft, i.e., thearmrest 52L becomes rotatable with a turning angle in a range up to 90degrees.

Further, a microswitch SW3L for detecting a position of the arm 112 isprovided near one end of the arm 112 (another microswitch SW3R isprovided on the side of the other armrest). The switch is turned ON inthe locked state of the armrest as shown in FIG. 6a, and turned OFF inthe unlocked state thereof. Incidentally, cords, etc. used forconnecting the switches and others on the armrest to the apparatus bodyare wired through the internal bore of the support shaft 55.

The vicinity of the control lever 58 is shown in FIG. 7a. A lower end58a of the control lever has a smaller diameter, and this end is fittedinto the recess of a lower support mount 115. The control lever 58 isformed with a bore axially penetrating through the center thereof exceptfor a part of the end 58a, and a rod 116 is inserted through the bore. Acompression spring 117 is disposed on the lower side of the bulgedportion of the rod 116 at its lower end, while minute balls 118a and118b are disposed on the upper side thereof. The control lever end 58ais formed at positions adjacent to the minute balls 118a and 118b withholes having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the minute balls118a, 118b.

In the state as shown in FIG. 7a, therefore, the rod 116 is pushedupwards by the force of the spring 117 to push the minute balls 118a and118b also upwards, whereby the minute balls 118a and 118b are slightlyprojected to the outer side of the control lever 58 through theaforesaid holes. On this occasion, an outer diameter of the controllever end 58a including the minute balls is selected to be greater thanan inner diameter of the upper recess of the support mount 115. Thus,the control lever 58 is locked in this stage and it can not be removedout even with a pulling-up force being applied thereto.

On the other hand, when a force pushing down the rod 116 is applied tothe control lever 58 from above, the force pushing the minute balls 118aand 118b toward the outer side is offset so that the minute balls areapart from the holes of the control lever end 58a, thus causing thecontrol lever to be unlocked. As a result, the control lever 58 can bepulled out easily. The support mount 115 is provided with a microswitchSW4 for detecting the presence of the control lever 58. The contact ofthe switch SW4 is turned ON when the control lever 58 is fitted as shownin FIG. 7a, and turned OFF when it is pulled out.

The support mount 115 is supported at a lower spherical portion 115athereof so as to be freely rotatable about the portion 115a. A long rod115b is extended downwards from the spherical portion and has its lowerend arranged as shown in FIG. 7b.

Referring now FIG. 7b, a pair of semi-circular thin plates 119 and 120are superimposed at a right angle to each other. The plates 119 and 120are formed with continuous elongated slots 119a and 120a, respectively,and the rod 115b is inserted through the crossed part of both slots 119aand 120a. The plates 119 and 120 are rotatably supported at their bothends. The plate 119 has one end connected to a rotary shaft of avariable resistor 121, and the plate 120 has one end connected to arotary shaft of a variable resistor 122.

The external appearance of the valve unit 73 is shown in FIG. 8.Referring now to FIG. 8, the valve unit 73 includes a number of solenoidvalves and pressure sensors. Many bores for fluid connections ofpassages are formed in the interior of a box-like casing, thereby toeliminate of the need of pipes used to connect the passages for theindividual solenoid valves. In this embodiment, there are employedtwelve solenoids of the same construction. Though not shown in FIG. 8,there are employed four pressure sensors. Designated at 73a is anegative pressure intake port, at 73b is a positive pressure intakepart, and at 81, 82 are pressure output terminals of the independentsystems, respectively. The pipes connected to those output terminals arein turn connected to the openings 83 and 84 of the tube taking-upmechanism.

Further, the valve unit 73 is provided at the not shown part thereofwith other output terminals for releasing the pressures from the samesystems as 81 and 82, respectively. The pipes connected to those ofother output terminals are in turn directly connected to air tubeconnector 123 for emergency shown in FIG. 2c while bypassing the tubetaking-up mechanism. This connector is used in the event there occursany anomaly in the artificial heart driving tube 57L or 57R, and theoutput terminals of the connector are normally closed.

FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d show a top plan, right side, left side and anenlarged longitudinal sectional view of each solenoid valve(electromagnetic control valve) shown in FIG. 8, respectively. Referringnow to FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, the solenoid valve has a valve housing11 formed with a first port 12 and a second port 13. An internal spaceof the housing 11 is divided by a valve seat 14 into a first internalchamber 15 in communication with the first port 12 and a second internalchamber 16 in communication with the second port 13. A coil case 18 ofmagnetic material is fixed to the valve housing 11 via a sealingmaterial 17.

Within the case 18 is inserted a coil bobbin 20 having a coil 19 woundtherearound, the coil bobbin 20 being supported by a pair of magneticmaterial bases 21, 22. A fixed core 23 of magnetic material is securedto the base 21. The core 23 has a central hollow space and a guide rod24 is non-magnetic material is extended to penetrate therethrough. Amovable core 25 of magnetic material is fixed to the rod 24. One end ofthe rod 24 is pushed leftwards by a coil spring 26. The other end of therod 24 penetrates through a bearing 27 and a bellows 28, and it has itsextreme end part to which is fixed a valve body 29. An internal space ofthe bellows 28 is communicated with the first internal chamber 15 (inthe state illustrated) or with the second internal chamber 16 (when therod 24 is driven rightwards) through small holes 30 and 37.

When the coil 19 is energized, there causes magnetic flux circulatingthrough the core 23-core 25-base 22-case 18-base 21-core 23 and a forcefor attracting the core 25 to the core 23 acts on the former, wherebythe rod 24 is moved rightwards up to a point where this attraction forceis balanced by the repulsion force of the coil spring 26. As a result,the valve body 29 is apart away from the valve seat 14 by a distance inaccordance with the attraction force. An end face 23c of the core 23 hasthe W-like form, while an end face 25a of the core 25 has the recessedform receiving the central projection of the opposite end face 23a.Further, inner side faces 23b of both end projections in the W-like formare tapered. By the presence of such tapers, the ratio of a energizationlevel to a movement amount of the rod 24 (i.e., a gap between 23a and25a) is made to have the proportional relationship in a wider range.Also, the solenoid valve of this kind has good responsivity of itsmovable part and permits the high-speed opening and closing control.

FIG. 10 shows the schematic operational configuration of the entireapparatus of FIG. 1. Referring now to FIG. 10, designated at 1R and 1Lare artificial hearts. When predetermined positive and negativepressures are alternately applied to these artificial hearts 1R, 1L, adiaphragm placed therein is pulsated to feed blood in a certaindirection determined by actions of valves. Tubes 2a and 2b used forapplying pressures to the artificial hearts 1R and 1L are connected tothe artificial heart driving tubes 57R and 57L, respectively, throughconnectors fitted to the ends thereof.

An artificial heart driving mechanism 300 for applying the air ofpredetermined pressure to the artificial heart 1R and 1L is electricallycontrolled by an artificial heart control unit 400. A display controlunit 500 generates a composite video signal for indicating informationsissued from the artificial heart control unit 400 on the monitortelevision TV. The display control unit 500 may be formed of acommercially available unit comprising a display signal memory,character generator (ROM), integrated circuits for display control, etc.A control board 600 is a switch board for changing and instructingvarious artificial heart driving parameters, and it is connectable tothe artificial heart control unit 400. It is to be noted that theoptimum values are previously set in a read-only memory (ROM) within theartificial heart control unit 400 as the driving parameters, and thatthere is practically no possibility to use the switch board.

The wheelchair driving motor control unit 75 serves to control thedirect current motors M1 and M2 operatively coupled to the pair of rearwheels 51b of the wheelchair. A system control unit 200 reads the statesof various switches, sends a signal to the artificial heart control unit400 and controls turning ON/OFF of the wheelchair driving motor controlunit 75, turning ON/OFF of the monitor television TV, etc.

The detailed of the artificial heart driving mechanism 300 in FIG. 10 isshown in FIG. 11. Referring now to FIG. 11, the compressor 71 and thevacuum pump 72 are communicated with the atmosphere through the muffler74. A number of solenoid valves, etc. are connected to the pressureoutput terminals of the compressor 71 and the vacuum pump 72, thoseconstituent parts being grouped into two systems. One system serves todrive the righthand artificial heart 1R, while the other system servesto drive the lefthand artificial heart 1L.

The righthand system will be first described. Designated at 131 is apressure adjusting valve for adjusting the positive pressure to beapplied to the artificial heart, the valve being controlled in itsopening and closing operation in response to output from a pressuresensor PS1 dropped in the output terminal passage thereof. Designated at132 is a solenoid valve which serves to make the ON/OFF control forapplication of the predetermined positive pressure obtained by thepressure adjusting valve 131, etc. to the artificial heart 1R. Asolenoid valve 135 connected in parallel to the pressure adjusting valve131 is provided to compensate reduction in the pressure which occurs atthe rising of the pressure applied to the artificial heart. Similarly, asolenoid valve 133 adjusts the negative pressure, a solenoid valve 134makes the ON/OFF control of the negative pressure applied to theartificial heart, and a solenoid valve 136 compensates reduction in thepressure. A pressure sensor PS3 detects the negative pressure in thissystem. The lefthand system is constructed in a similar way. That is,solenoid valves 137, 138 and 141 are a pressure adjusting valve, apressure ON/OFF valve and a pressure compensating valve for the positivepressure system, respectively, and solenoid valves 139, 140 and 142 area pressure adjusting valve, a pressure ON/OFF valve and a pressurecompensating valve for the negative pressure system, respectively.Pressure sensors PS2 and PS4 serve to detect the pressures in thepositive and negative pressure systems, respectively.

The configuration of the artificial heart control unit 400 in FIG. 10 isshown in FIGS. 12a and 12b. Referring first to FIG. 12a, this circuitryperforms the pressure adjusting control. More specifically, it controlsopening and closing of the solenoid valves 131, 137, 133 and 139 inaccordance with both signals from the pressure sensors PS1, PS2, PS3 andPS4 and the preset pressure values. This circuitry itself is controlledby a microcomputer unit CPU1.

Analog signals RPP, LPP, RNP and LNP from the pressure sensors PS1, PS2,PS3 and PS4 are applied to an analog/digital converter Z16 through aconnector J5. The A/D converter Z16 is provided with eight inputchannels and has resolution of 12 bits. Designated at EOC is an outputterminal for a signal for indicating the completion of conversion, atSTROBE is an input terminal for giving the instruction of conversion, atEN1, EN2 and EN3 are input terminals for controlling outputallowance/prohibition of the converted digital data, and at A1, A2, A4and A8 are input terminals for specifying input channels. The A/Dconverter Z16 is connected to the microcomputer CPU1 through a connectorJ4.

Solenoids of the pressure adjusting solenoid valves 131, 137, 133 and139 are connected to a connector J3. Designated at SSR1, SSR2, SSR3 andSSR4 are solid state relays for making the ON/OFF control ofenergization for those solenoids, which relays are controlled by outputports of the microcomputer unit CPU1 through a buffer Z15. A part ofsignal lines from the control board 600 is connected to a connector J1.Signals applied to the J1 are in turn applied to input ports of themicrocomputer unit CPU1 through a buffer BF1 and a chattering removalcircuit CH1. Signals from the system control unit 200 are applied to apart of input ports of the CPU1. The display control circuit 500 isconnected other ports of the CPU1.

Referring now to FIG. 12b, the illustrated circuitry makes the controlof the pressure ON/OFF controlling solenoid valves 132, 138, 134 and 140as well as the pressure compensating solenoid valves 135, 141, 136 and142. This entire circuitry is controlled by a microcomputer unit CPU2.Energization of solenoids for the solenoid valves 132, 138, 134 and 140are controlled by solid state relays SSR5, SSR6, SSR7 and SSR8,respectively, which relays are controlled by the corresponding outputports or the microcomputer unit CPU2.

Driver circuits DV1, DV2, DV3 and DV4 are connected in parallel to thoseoutput ports of the CPU2 used for controlling the solid state relaysSSR5, SSR6, SSR7 and SSR8, respectively. The driver circuits DV1, DV2,DV3 and DV4 have all the same construction.

A part of signal lines from the control board 600 is connected to aconnector J6. Signals applied to the J6 are in turn applied to inputports or the microcomputer unit CPU2 through a buffer BF2 and achattering removal circuit CH2. To other input ports of the CPU2 areconnected the system control unit 200 and the display control unit 500.

The driver circuit DV1 will be now described. Designated at TG is atrigger circuit for detecting the falling of an input signal, and at TM1and TM2 are timers.

The operating timing, etc. of the driver circuit DV1 is shown in FIG.12c. Referring to FIG. 12c, the solid state relay SSR5 repeats itsON/OFF operation at a predetermined period, and the solenoid valve 132is opened and closed correspondingly. The timers TM1 and TM2 aretriggered by the falling of the signal for controlling the SSR5. Anoutput level of the TM1 is inverted to H upon triggering and then holdsH for a period of T1 from that inversion. The TM2 is also triggered tobe inverted to H and then holds H for a period of T2. T1 and T2 areselected to meet T1<T2.

. .The solid state relay SSR9 for controlling the solenoid valve 135 isturned when the output level of TM1 is L and the output level of TM2 isH, i.e., only in a period of T3=(T2-T3)..!. .Iadd.The solid state relaySSR9 for controlling the solenoid valve 135 is turned on when the outputlevel of TM1 is L and the output level of TM2 is H, i.e., only in aperiod of T3=(T2-T1). .Iaddend.Timing of T3 is within the period wherethe SSR5 is turned OFF, i.e., the solenoid valve 132 is closed, so thatthe higher pressure from the compressor 71 will never be directlyapplied to the artificial heart. Although the pressure at the outputterminal of the solenoid valve 131 becomes somewhat higher than the setpressure after opening of the solenoid valve 135, the pressure on theartificial heart side will never become higher than the set pressurebecause the output terminal pressure of the solenoid 131 is loweredbelow the predetermined pressure immediately after subsequent opening ofthe solenoid valve 132. In this embodiment, . .there is provided toaccumulator.!. .Iadd.there is not provided an accumulator .Iaddend.atthe pressure output terminals of the pressure adjusting valves 131, 137,133 and 139. As an alternative, the solenoid valves 135, 141, 136 and142 are opened at a predetermined timing during the closed period of thesolenoid valves 132, 138, 134 and 140, respectively, whereby thepressure waveform having the sharp rising as shown in FIG. 12c appearsin the artificial heart. If the pressure compensating solenoid valves135, 141, 136 and 142 are not opened, the rising of the pressurewaveform will be delayed as seen from a one-dot chain line. Although thepressure compensating solenoid valves are provided in both positive andnegative system in the illustrated embodiment, it is found that thesatisfactory result can be attained in practice even in case where thosesolenoid valves are provided in the positive pressure system only.

The microcomputer units CPU1 and CPU2 used in this embodiment are ofsingle board microcomputer units H62SCO1 manufactured by Hitachi Ltd.The summary configuration of H62SCO1 is shown in FIG. 13. Refering toFIG. 13, each unit comprises a microprocessor 6802, I/O ports, timer,RAM, ROM, etc.

FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the control board 600. Referring nowto FIG. 14, switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7 and SW8 serve toissue instructions for pressure setting and are switches for instructinglefthand positive pressure up, lefthand positive pressure down, lefthandnegative pressure up, lefthand negative pressure down, righthandpositive pressure up, righthand positive pressure down, righthandnegative pressure up and righthand negative pressure down, respectively.Switches SW9, SW10, SW11 and SW12 serve to set the duty ratio of thepositive pressure to the negative pressure applied to the artificialheart, and are switches for instructing lefthand duty ratio up, lefthandduty ratio down, righthand duty ratio up and righthand duty ratio down,respectively. Designated at SW13 and SW14 are switches for instructingup and down in heart rate, respectively.

FIG. 15 shows the details of the wheelchair driving motor control unit75 in FIG. 10. Referring now to FIG. 15, the wheelchair driving motorsM1 and M2 are connected to independent driving circuits MD1 and MD2,respectively. The driving circuits MD1 and MD2 are each of a H-typedriving circuit and, when either one of switching elements locating on adiagonal line, electrical current is caused to flow into an armature ofthe motor in a predetermined direction so as to rotate it in apredetermined direction.

The contact of a relay RL1 is connected in parallel to an armature ofthe motor M1. This contact is a normally closed type. Thus, the contactis opened when the relay RL1 is in the ON state, but closed when it isturned OFF to effect the dynamic brake. The motor M2 also includes asimilar brake circuit.

Both motor driving circuits MD1 and MD2 are controlled by amicrocomputer CPU3. The motor driving circuit MD1 is connected to outputports 01, 02 and 03 of the CPU3 through a buffer BF3, while the motordriving circuit MD2 is connected to output ports 04, 05 and 06 of theCPU3 through a buffer BF3. Power source Vcc for the microcomputer CPU3is supplied from a stabilized power supply circuit RPS. A battery of 24V is connected to an input terminal of the stabilized power supplycircuit RPS through a relay RL3. The relay RL3 is controlled by thesystem control unit 200.

Sliders of two potentiometers 121 and 122 connected to the control lever58 are connected to first and second channels CH1 and CH2 of ananalog/digital converter AD2, respectively, and output terminals D0through D7 of the AD2 are connected to input ports of the microcomputerCPU3. The predetermined constnat voltage is applied to bothpotentiometers 121 and 122 from the stabilized power supply circuit RPS.

FIG. 16 shows the detail configuration of the system control unit 200 inFIG. 10. Referring now to FIG. 16, the system control unit 200 iscontrolled by a microcomputer CPU4. To input ports of the CPU4 areconnected various switches SW1L, SW1R, SW3L, SW3R, SW4 and 102 through abuffer BF4.

The reel taking-up instruction switch SW2 is connected to a pulse motordriver PMD and a solenoid driver SD1 through the buffer BF4. The PMDdrives a reel taking-up motor M3, while the SD1 drives a solenoid SL3 ofthe electromagnetic actuator 97. A circuit comprising solid state relaysSSR13, SSR17, etc. connected to an output port of the CPU4 serves todrive the power supply relay RL3 shown in FIG. 15. Solid state relaysSSR14 and SSR15 connected to output ports of the CPU4 serve to energizesolenoids of the electromagnetic actuators 114 for locking the left andright armrests.

Designated at BZ is a warning buzzer. LE1 and LE2 denote light emittingdiodes for indicating an alarm in the artificial heart system andprovided in the alarm display 59 shown in FIG. 2a. LE3 and LE4 denotelight emitting diodes for indicating an alarm in the wheelchair systemand are provided in the alarm display 60. The light emitting diodes LE1and LE4 emit a red color light, while the diodes LE2 and LE4 emit agreen color light.

A solid state relay SSR16 connected to an output port of the CPU4 makesthe ON/OFF control of power source for the monitor television TV. Aswitch SW5 is a manual switch for turning ON/OFF the monitor televisionTV. Designated at IF1, IF2, IF3 and IF4 are interface circuits fortransmitting signals to other circuits. The IF1 and IF2 are connected tothe CPU1, while the IF3 and IF4 are connected to the CPU3. Thoseinterface circuits IF1, IF2, IF3 and IF4 are each composed of aninverter, photo coupler PC1, etc.

FIGS. 17a, 17b and 17c show summary operation of the microcomputer CPU3in FIG. 15, and FIG. 17d shows one example of the operating timing. FIG.17a denotes a main routine, FIG. 17b denotes a voltage samplingsubroutine and FIG. 17c denotes an interrupt processing routine.

The summary operation thereof will be now described. In this embodiment,to make small loss of the power, both direct current motors M1 and M2are subjected to the switching control and a pulse width of theswitching pulses is modulated in accordance with the positions of thepotentiometers 121 and 122 connected to the control lever 58, thereby toset a motor speed.

When positive pulses are applied to the output ports of the CPU3, bothmotors M1 and M2 are driven forwards, and when positive pulses areapplied to the output ports 03 and 06 thereof, both motors M1 and M2 aredriven backwards. In this embodiment, the wheelchair moves forwards whenboth M1 and M2 are driven forwards at the same speed, moves rearwardswhen both are driven backwards at the same speed, and curves or turnsforwards or rearwards in cases other than the aboves. When both motorsM1 and M2 are not driven, the relays RL1, etc. are turned OFF and thearmatures of the motors M1 and M2 are short-circuited to effect thebrake.

By referring to FIGS. 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d, the operation of the CPU3will be now described in order. First, when the power supply is turnedON, i.e., when the relay RL3 shown in FIG. 15 is turned ON, the CPU3 setthe individual output ports at their levels, clears the content of therandom access memory (RAM) and stores initial parameters having beenpreviously stored in the read-only memory (ROM) into registers(memories) allocated to the individual parameters. In the initial state,the output ports 01 and 04 of the CPU3 are set at L, thus coming intothe braking mode. Also, interrupt is inhibited in this state.

When the CPU is set interruptible, the timer issues an interrupt demandfor each predetermined period of time. If interrupt is effected, theCPU3 executes the processing as shown in FIG. 17c. This proccessing willbe described later in detail.

Then, the CPU3 reads the slider potentials of the potentiometers 121 and122 connected to the running control lever 58. The detailed of thissampling processing is shown in FIG. 17b. As a result of the sampling,when the present potential is different from the previously sampledvalue, i.e., when the control lever 58 has been moved, the CPU5 updatesthe speed instruction data for the motors and then operates as follows.

By comparing the speed instruction data with predetermined values, it isjudged whether driving or braking. More specifically, in the illustratedembodiment the constant voltage of 12 V is applied to one ends of thepotentiometers 121 and 122, and the slider potential assumes about 6 Vwhen the control lever 58 is in its neutral position (stoppageposition). Therefore, since a range of about 6±0.2 V is assumed as astoppage region, it is arranged that the speed instruction data iscompared with the data representing the upper and lower limits of thatstoppage region (i.e. predetermined values). The voltage higher than thevalues corresponding to the stoppage region represents the forwarddriving, while the voltage lower than those values represent thebackward driving.

When the speed instruction data is at a stoppage level (i.e., below thepredetermined values), interrupt is inhibited, a low level L is set tothe output ports 02, 03, 05 and 06 to inhibit driving of the motors, anda low level L is set to the output ports 01 and 04, thus setting thebraking mode and setting the braking flag to "1".

On the other hand, when the speed instruction data is at a driving level(i.e., above the predetermined values), widths (time period) LD and RDof pulses for driving the motors M1 and M2 are calculated based on thespeed instruction data. If the braking flag is set to "1", the brakingmode is released as follows. More specifically, the value of the counterCOT is cleared to 0, the output ports 01 and 04 are set to H (the relayRL1 ON) and the braking flag is cleared to "0" so as to allow theinterrupt demand.

The voltage sampling processing (FIG. 17b) will be now described. First,the input channel designation for the A/D converter AD2 is set to CH1(output voltage of the potentiometer 121), the A/D conversion startinstruction (TRIG) is issued and then it waits for the end A/Dconversion (EOC), i.e., until EOC will be output. Upon the end ofconversion, the converted data is read and stored in the predeterminedregister. Subsequently, the input channel designation is set to CH2(output voltage of 122), the A/D conversion start instruction is issuedand then it waits for the end of A/D conversion. Upon the end ofconversion, the converted data is read and stored in the predeterminedregister.

The interrupt processing of FIG. 17c will be now described by referringto the operating timing of FIG. 17d. The counter COT serves to count atime and, more concretely, is formed of an N-notation counter whichcounts as follows; 0, 1, 2, . . . N--1, N, 0, 1 . . . , which is countedup one by one every when the interrupt processing is executed. The timecorresponding to the value N represents one period of the motor drivingpulses.

When the value of the counter COT becomes 0, the output port determinedin accordance with the driving directions of the motors is set to a highlevel H. In other words, in case of the lefthand motor M1, the outputport 02 is set to H for its forward rotation and the output port 03 isset to H for its backward rotation. In case of the righthand motor M2,the output ports 05 or 06 is set to H for its forward or backwardrotation, respectively. The pulses for driving the M1 and those fordriving the M2 have the same timing.

When the value of the counter COT equals to the lefthand motorenergizing pulse width LD, both output ports 02 and 03 are set to L, andwhen the value of the counter COT equals to the righthand motorenergization pulse width RD, both output ports 05 and 06 are set to L.

Therefore, the pulses for energizing the motor M1 are set to H duringthe time the value of the COT assumes 0 through LD, and are set to L(i.e., M1 is deenergized) during the time except for the above. Thepulses for energizing the motor M2 are set to H during the time thevalue of the COT assumes 0 through RD, and are set to L during the timeexcept for the above. Since both motors M1 and M2 are rotated at a speedin accordance with the power applied thereto, namely, the duty ratio ofthe time period for energization to that for deenergization, the motorspeed can be varied by changing the values of LD and RD.

FIGS. 18a and 18b show summary operation of the microcomputer CPU1 inFIG. 12a. FIG. 18a denotes a main routine and FIG. 18b denotes aninterrupt processing routine. The description will be now made byreferring to FIGS. 18a and 18b.

First, when the power supply is turned ON, the individual output portsare set at their initial levels, the content of the random access memory(RAM) is cleared and the data having been previously stored in theread-only memory (ROM) is read out therefrom to set the initial valuesto the parameters. The parameters for the CPU1 are a righthand positivepressure target value P1, righthand negative pressure target value P2,lefthand positive pressure target value P3, lefthand negative pressuretarget value P4, etc. In this embodiment, the initial values of thosepressures P1, P2, P3 and P4 are set at +30, -30, +100 and -50 (mmHg),respectively.

After the above processing, interrupt becomes allowable. In thisembodiment, interrupts are periodically occurred by the internal timerat a period of 4 msec. After it waits for the interrupt demand, samplingof the pressure data is performed. This sampling processing is similarto that shown in FIG. 17b. The difference are in that there are fourparameters to be sampled, outputs RPP, RNP, LPP and LNP from the fourpressure sensors, and that since the bit number of the data is 12 bits,the read processing is performed two times for each sampling.

The sampled pressure data is checked to judge the presence or absence ofanomaly data. In other words, when the detected pressure is abnormallydifferent from the target value, this is regarded as anomaly. It is tobe noted that, in this embodiment, the pressure compensating solenoidvalves 135, 141, 136 and 142 are provided, thus resulting in apossibility the pressure becomes relatively so large temporarily, butthis possibility is masked by making sampling several times and thenaveraging the plural pressure data thus sampled.

Should there occur any anomaly, the anomaly data is converted to thenumeral code data. Then, the anomaly display data indicating thatnumeral code data and the part where the anomaly has occurred, is outputto the display control unit 500 so as to display them on the monitortelevision TV. Also, the anomaly occurrence code data is transferred inthe form of serial data to the microcomputer CPU4 in the system controlunit.

If there is no anomaly, the last m pressure data having been stored inthe random access memory are averaged. The averaged data is converted tothe numeral code, which is sent to the display control unit 500. Whenthe microcomputer CPU4 in the system control unit is transmitting data,the data is received and this received data is also sent to the displaycontrol unit 500. With the control board 600 being connected, the statesof keys are read. If there is any key-in operation, the value of therighthand positive target pressure P1, righthand negative targetpressure P2, lefthand positive target pressure P3 or the lefthandnegative target pressure P4 is updated stepwisely by a predeterminedamount for each time in accordance with the key operated. Incidentally,since the upper and lower limit is preset, it is impossible to makepressure setting out of such a limit range.

The interrupt processing shown in FIG. 18b will be now described. First,the positive pressure RPP in the righthand artificial heart drivingsystem is checked. When it is lower than the predetermined pressure P1,the pressure adjusting valve 131 is set open, and in the case except forthe above, the valve 131 is set closed. Subsequently, the negativepressure RNP in the righthand artificial heart driving system ischecked. When the (absolute) value of RNP is lower than P2, the pressureadjusting valve 133 is set open, and if not so, the valve 133 is setclosed. Next, the positive pressure LPP and the negative pressure LNP inthe lefthand artificial heart driving system are compared with P3 andP4, respectively, and the pressure adjusting valve 137 or 139 is setopen or closed. Differently stated, it is so arranged in this embodimentthat the pressure adjusting valve is opened only when the detectedpressure (absolute value) is lower than the target pressure.

Summary operation of the microcomputer CPU2 in FIG. 12b is shown inFIGS. 19a and 19b. FIG. 19a denotes a main routine and FIG. 19b denotesan interrupt processing routine. The description will be now made byreferring to FIGS. 19a and 19b.

First, when the power supply is turned ON, the microcomputer CPU2 setsthe output ports at their initial levels, clears the content of therandom access memory (RAM) and reads out the values having beenpreviously stored in the read-only memory (ROM) to set the parameters attheir initial values.

The parameters for the CPU2 are a heart rate PR, duty of the lefthandartificial heart DL, duty of the righthand artificial heart DR, etc. Inthis embodiment, the initial values of those parameters PR, DL and DRare set at 100 rpm, 45% (duration time 270 ms) and 55% (duration time330 ms), respectively.

Subsequently, the CPU2 executes the processing loop including suchprocessings as interrupt waiting, check of a key input from the controlboard, parameter display, etc. If there occurs any key input, the kindof the input key is judged, comparison of the desired value of theparameter to be changed with the upper and lower limit values as well ascalculation thereof is performed, and arithmetic processing of thoseparameters in association with the changed parameter is carried out.These processings are progressed under execution of the related varioussubroutines.

The interrupt processing will be now described. The value of bothcounters COR and COL are each counted up for each interrupt processing.When the counted value reaches PR (parameter of time determined by theheart rate), it is cleared to "0". When the value of the counter CORbecomes 0, the valves 132 and 134 are set open and closed (positivepressure applying mode), respectively. When the value of the counter CORbecomes equal to the value DR of the duty parameter, the valves 132 and134 are set closed and open (negative pressure applying mode),respectively. After the above processing, the counter COR is counted up.

Likewise, when the value of the counter COL becomes 0, the valves 138and 140 are set open and closed (positive pressure applying mode),respectively, and when the value of the counter COL beocmes equal to thevalue DL of the duty parameter, the valves 138 and 140 are set closedand open (negative pressure applying mode), respectively.

Summary operation of the microcomputer CPU4 in FIG. 16 is shown in FIG.20. Referring now to FIG. 20, when the power supply is turned ON, theoutput ports are set at their initial levels, the content of the randomaccess memory (RAM) is cleared, and the apparatus is set in the initialstate in accordance with the program data stored in the read-onlymemory. This causes the light emitting diodes LE1 and LE3 to be set intodeenergization and the light emitting diodes LE2 and LE4 to be set intoenergization, whereby green color (normal state) is indicated on bothanomaly displays 59 and 60 of the wheelchair.

Thereafter, the CPU4 periodically checks the states of various switchesand then operates in accordance with the checked states. When thearmrest unlocking switches SW1L and SW1R are turned ON, the solenoidsSL1 and SL2 of the electromagnetic actuators 114 and set intoenergization, and when those switches are turned OFF, the solenoids SL1and SL2 are set into deenergization. Since energization of the solenoidSL1 or SL2 releases the armrest from its locked state, the lefthand orrighthand armrest becomes rotatable in a range of 90 degrees. On theother hand, when the armrest is set in the running position with thesolenoid being deenergized, it is locked.

Next, the CPU4 checks the states of the lefthand armrest positiondetecting switch SW3L, righthand armrest position detecting switch SW3R,artificial heart driving tube position detecting switch 102 and therunning control lever presence/absence detecting switch SW4.

When the lefthand and righthand armrests 52L and 52R are in the runningpositions (both SW3L and SW4R ON), the artificial heart driving tubes57L and 57R are both in the housed condition (102 ON) and the runningcontrol lever 58 is fitted in the predetermined position (SW4 ON), it isassumed that the user sits on the wheelchair and wishes to run. Thus,the relay RL3 is turned ON to set ON the power for the wheelchairdriving motor control unit 75. At the same time, the data for displayingthat the apparatus is in the ready state, is sent to the CPU1 throughthe interface circuit IF1. The CPU1 transfers the received data to thedisplay control unit.

When the lefthand armrest is in the unlocked position, the righthandarmrest is in the unlocked position, the artificial heart driving tubesare in the drawn-out condition, or the running control lever is absent,the relay RL3 is turned OFF to set OFF the power for the wheelchairdriving motor control unit 75. As a result, the output ports 01, 02, 03,04, 05 and 06 of the CPU3 assume a low level L and both motors M1 and M2are not supplied with the power from the outside, so that operation ofthe wheelchair is inhibited. At the same time, since the relay RL1 isturned OFF and the contact of RL1 is closed, the armatures of bothmotors M1 and M2 are short-circuited and the dynamic braking mode isset.

Subsequently, the data for displaying the operating instruction such as"Please set the running control lever", etc. is sent to the CPU1 so asto display it on the monitor television TV. Also, the light emittingdiode LE3 is lit up and the LE4 is put out, thereby to indicate redcolor on the anomaly display 60 for the wheelchair system.

When receiving the data sent from the CPU1, the CPU3 undergoes interruptand executes the interrupt processing. In this interrupt processing, theCPU3 receives the data through the interface circuit IF2 and sets thereceipt flag to "1" upon the completion of receipt. When the receiptflag becomes "1", the received data is judged by the main routine. Inthe event the anomaly code has been sent, the anomaly processingoperation will be performed as follows.

That is, the light emitting diode LE1 is lit up and the LE2 is put outso as to indicate red color (occurrence of anomaly) on the artificialanomaly display 59. At the same time, the warning buzzer BZ is buzzed,the power for the monitor television TV is set ON (SSR16 ON) and thereceipt flag is cleared to "0".

Having now fully set forth both structure and operation of preferredembodiment of the concept underlying the present invention, variousother embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of theembodiment herein shown and described will obviously occur to thoseskilled in the art upon becoming familiar with the underlying concept.It is to be understood, therefore, that with the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyset force herein.

What we claim is:
 1. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising:a wheelchair; medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance; a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; second pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said third solenoid valve; a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, and to control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively; electric motor means for driving said wheelchair; instruction means for controlling energization of said electric motor means; state detecting means for detecting at least one state of at least one part moveable on said wheel chair, the state of a moveable part of said medical appliance driving means and the state of said instruction means and providing signals indicative of said states; and second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor means in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor means when said state detecting means detects a dangerous state.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said instruction means comprises a control lever and a lever supporting means for supporting said lever in a detachable manner, and said state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of attachment of said control lever with respect to said lever supporting means.
 3. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein said wheelchair comprises at least one armrest moveable on said wheelchair and lock means for locking said armrest in a predetermined position, and said state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of said lock means.
 4. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 3, wherein said armrest is constructed to be moveable horizontally about a support shaft, and said lock means includes engagement means engaged with said support shaft and an electromagnetic actuator for moving said engagement means out of engagement with said shaft.
 5. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein said medical appliance driving means comprises; flexible tubes connected at one end to said second solenoid valve and said fourth solenoid valve respectively and adapted to be connected at the other ends thereof to said medical appliance; and tube taking-up means for retracting said flexible tubes and wherein said state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of retraction of said flexible tubes.
 6. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 5, wherein said tube taking-up means comprises; a first fixed member having a first bore axially penetrating through the central part thereof and a groove in a position of the outer periphery thereof; a second fixed member having first and second passages formed at positions opposite to said groove of said first fixed member, and fitted to said outer periphery of said first fixed member; a moveable member provided with a third passage formed at a position opposite to said first bore and with a fourth passage formed at a position opposite to said second passage, and fitted to the outer periphery of said second fixed member rotatably relative to the same; and a tube reel rotatable together with said moveable member, the pressure output terminals of said second and fourth solenoid valves being connected to at least one of said first bore and said first passage, and said flexible tubes being connected to at least one of said third and fourth passages.
 7. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 5, wherein said tube taking-up means includes electric motor means for rotating said tube reel and switch means for controlling energization of said motor.
 8. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein, when energization of said electric motor is inhibited, said second electronic control means short circuits an armature of said electric motor means for braking movement of said wheelchair.
 9. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein said medical appliance driving means includes a fifth solenoid valve connected in parallel to said first solenoid valve .Iadd.connected in parallel to said third solenoid valve .Iaddend.and a sixth solenoid valve, and said first electronic control means controls opening and closing or said fifth and sixth solenoid valves according to predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said second and fourth solenoid valve.
 10. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 9, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said second solenoid is closed, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said fourth solenoid valve is closed.
 11. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 10, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said second solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said second solenoid valve, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said fourth solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said fourth solenoid valve.
 12. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising:a wheelchair; medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, and to control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valve at predetermined times, respectively; electric motor means for driving said wheelchair; instruction means for controlling energization of said electric motor means; first state detecting means for detecting the state of at least one part moveable on said wheelchair; second state detecting means for detecting the state of said flexible tube of said medical appliance driving means; third state detecting means for detecting the state of said instruction means; and second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor when at least one of said first, second and third state detecting means detects a dangerous state.
 13. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12, wherein said instruction means comprises a control lever and a lever supporting means for supporting said lever in a detachable manner, and said third state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of attachment of said control lever to said lever supporting means.
 14. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12, wherein said wheelchair comprises at least one armrest moveable on said wheelchair and lock means for locking said armrest in a predetermined position, and said first state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of said lock means.
 15. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according claim 14, wherein said armrest is constructed to be moveable horizontally about a support shaft, and said lock means includes engagement means engaged with said support shaft and an electromagnetic actuator for moving said engagement means out of engagement with said shaft.
 16. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12, wherein said medical appliance driving means comprises tube taking-up means for rolling up said flexible tubes, and said second state detecting means generates a signal in accordance with the rolled-up condition of said flexible tubes.
 17. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 16, wherein said tube taking-up means comprises; a first fixed member having a first bore axially penetrating through the central part thereof and a groove in a portion of the outer periphery thereof; a second fixed member having a first and second passage formed at positions opposite to said groove of said first fixed member, and fitted to said outer periphery of said first fixed member; a moveable member provided with a third passage formed at a position opposite to said first bore and with a fourth passage formed at a position opposite to said second passage, and fitted to the outer periphery of said second fixed member rotatably relative to the same; and a tube reel rotatable together with said moveable member, the pressure output terminals of said second and fourth solenoid valves being connected to at least one of said first bore and said first passage, and said flexible tubes being connected to at least one of said third and fourth passages.
 18. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 16, wherein said tube taking-up means includes electric motor means for rotating said tube reel and switch means for controlling energization of said motor.
 19. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12 wherein said medical appliance driving means comprises tube taking-up means for rolling up said flexible tubes, and said second state detecting means generates a signal in accordance with the rolled-up condition of said flexible tubes.
 20. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising:a wheelchair; medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve.Iadd.; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve .Iaddend.and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube, a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, and to control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively; and a tube taking-up means for rolling up said flexible tubes; electric motor means for rotating said wheelchair; instruction means for controlling energization of said electric motor means; first state detecting means for detecting the state of at least one part moveable on said wheelchair; second state detecting means for detecting the rolled up state of said flexible tubes of said medical appliance driving means; third state detecting means for detecting the state of said instruction means; and second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor when at least one of said first, second and third state detecting means detects a dangerous state.
 21. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising:a wheelchair; medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; a fourth solenoid valve having an iput terminal connected to an output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; a fifth solenoid valve connected in parallel to said first solenoid valve and a sixth solenoid valve connected in parallel to said third solenoid valve; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively, and to control said fifth and sixth solenoid valves at the predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said second and fourth solenoid valve; electric motor means for driving said wheelchair; instruction means for instructing energization of said electric motor; first state detecting means for detecting the state of at least one part moveable on said wheelchair; second state detecting means for detecting the state of said flexible tube of said medical appliance driving means; third state detecting means for detecting the state of said running instruction means; and second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor means when at least one of said first, second and third state detecting means detects a dangerous state. .Iadd.
 22. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance comprising:a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; a first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance; a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said negative pressure source; a second pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said third solenoid valve; a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance; a fifth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said positive pressure source and an output terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively, and to control opening and closing of said fifth solenoid valve according to predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said second solenoid valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 23. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus includes a sixth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source and an output terminal connected to the output terminal of said third solenoid valve and said medical appliance; and said first electronic control means controls opening and closing of said sixth solenoid valve according to predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said fourth solenoid valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 23, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said second solenoid is closed, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said fourth solenoid valve is closed. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 24, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said second solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said second solenoid valve, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said fourth solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said fourth solenoid valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A driving method for a medical appliance which is driven by applying to a driving portion of a medical appliance positive and negative pressures alternatively from a positive pressure source connected through a positive pressure adjusting valve and s negative pressure source connected through a negative pressure adjusting valve, wherein when the positive pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure drop in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance through circuit means parallel to said positive pressure adjusting valve in synchronous relation therewith and when the negative pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure rise in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance through circuit means parallel to said negative pressure adjusting valve in synchronous relation therewith. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance comprising:a positive pressure source; a positive pressure adjusting valve means connected to said positive pressure source for adjusting the pressure from said positive pressure source to a predetermined positive pressure; a negative pressure source; a negative pressure adjusting valve means connected to said negative pressure source for adjusting the pressure from said negative pressure source to a predetermined negative pressure; a pressure changing valve means for applying said predetermined positive and negative pressure alternately to said medical appliance; and a positive pressure branch having an inlet between said positive pressure source and said positive pressure adjusting valve means and an outlet between said positive pressure adjusting valve means and said pressure changing valve means for applying a pressure higher than that from the positive pressure adjusting valve means when the latter is being applied to said medical appliance; and a negative pressure branch having an inlet between said negative pressure source and negative pressure adjusting valve means and an outlet between said negative pressure adjusting valve means and said pressure changing valve means for applying a pressure lower than that from the negative pressure adjusting valve means when the latter is applied upon said medical appliance. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. A driving method for a medical appliance which is driven by applying to a driving portion of a medical appliance positive and negative pressures alternatively from a positive pressure source connected through a positive pressure adjusting valve and a negative pressure source connected through a negative pressure adjusting valve, wherein when the positive pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure drop in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance in synchronous relation with said positive pressure adjusting valve and when the negative pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure rise in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance in synchronous relation with said negative pressure adjusting valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance comprising:a positive pressure source; a positive pressure adjusting valve means connected to said positive pressure source for adjusting the pressure from said positive pressure source to a predetermined positive pressure; a negative pressure source; a negative pressure adjusting valve means connected to said negative pressure source for adjusting the pressure from the negative pressure source to a predetermined negative pressure; a pressure changing valve means for applying said predetermined positive and negative pressure alternately to said medical appliance; positive pressure compensating means including control valve means having an outlet connected between said positive pressure adjusting valve means and said medical appliance; and negative pressure compensating means including control valve means having an outlet connected between said negative pressure adjusting valve means and said medical appliance. .Iaddend. 